Dr Yohannes Melaku studies two things everyone does every day: eating and sleeping. Poor diet and poor sleep are very common and can contribute to serious health problems, but there is still a lot we do not know about how these behaviours work together and which changes can make the biggest difference to long-term health. His work aims to better understand these links so that people can make healthier choices and reduce their risk of chronic disease.
Dr Melaku uses large population studies and advanced data methods to understand how diet, sleep and other lifestyle behaviours affect health. His research has helped show, for example, that healthier plant-based diets are linked with a lower risk of obstructive sleep apnoea. He is now building on this work to identify practical ways to improve diet, sleep and overall wellbeing, while also working directly with communities to turn research findings into clear and useful health information. A particular focus is making this information accessible to culturally and linguistically diverse communities, so that the benefits of research reach people who may otherwise be missed.